Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli of EON Productions, together with Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum, Co-Chairmen and Chief Executive Officers of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., today announced that the 23rd James Bond film will commence production in late 2011 for a worldwide release on November 9, 2012. The UK and Ireland will be getting the movie two weeks earlier, on October 26.

Daniel Craig will be returning as the legendary British secret agent, with Sam Mendes directing a screenplay written by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and John Logan.

It's normally wise not to trust rumors when it comes to the casting of "the new Bond girl," especially when it comes from a British tabloid like the News of the World, but it looks like actress Naomie Harris, who first wowed audiences in Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later before joining the "Pirates of the Caribbean," is being considered to star in Sam Mendes' as yet untitled Bond 23. Harris will play Daniel Craig's "sexy sidekick" according to the story and other than the returning Dame Judi Dench as M, she would be the first female casting for the movie, which is set to start filming in September for a November 9, 2012 release.

With so many actresses' names being bandied about whenever there's a new Bond film, we would be dubious if not for other news outlets like EW.com and Indiewire confirming through their own sources.

Anyway, Harris is "in talks" as they say yet there's still no confirmation on whether either Ralph Fiennes or Javier Bardem, who have both been mentioned as possible villains, will be coming on board. Since filming doesn't begin for three months, we probably can expect a lot more names thrown around, but Harris would certainly be an interesting way to go.

After months of rumors, British actress Naomie Harris -- perhaps best known to IGN readers for her role as "Tia Dalma" in the second and third Pirates of the Caribbean films -- has reportedly been cast in Bond 23 ... as the new Miss Moneypenny.

Moneypenny, as any Bond fan can tell you, is M's personal assistant and the object of 007's unconsummated advances. This will be Miss Moneypenny's first appearance in the rebooted Bond series starring Daniel Craig as 007 and Judi Dench as M. Moneypenny has been played by five actresses, most notably by the late Lois Maxwell in all the Bond films from Dr. No to A View to a Kill. Caroline Bliss played Moneypenny in the Timothy Dalton films, while the aptly named Samantha Bond portrayed her in the Pierce Brosnan entries.

In addition to reporting Harris' casting, The Daily Mail also says acclaimed actors Javier Bardem and Ralph Fiennes are set to appear in Bond 23, which begins filming later this year.

The Telegraph claims Welsh actor Rhys Ifans is joining the cast of the Sam Mendes-directed James Bond sequel. The film is being distributed by Columbia Pictures, the studio behind Ifans's next two releases, Roland Emmerich's Anonymous and The Amazing Spider-Man (where he plays the Lizard).

The paper didn't say who Ifans would play, but if Naomie Harris is indeed the new Miss Moneypenny then we think Ifans would make for a great Q.

The Telegraph's source adds that Bond 23 will be shot largely in South Africa.

Ifans previously played Daniel Craig's stalker in Enduring Love, where he shared a kiss with the future 007. Ifans' other credits include Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Pirate Radio, Notting Hill and Little Nicky.

Columbia Pictures has released, through 007.com, director Sam Mendes' first video blog from the next James Bond adventure, Skyfall. Check it out in the player below as well as a behind-the-scenes photo!

Today, it was announced by the IMAX Corporation, EON Productions, MGM Studios and Sony Pictures that the next James Bond movie Skyfall, directed by Sam Mendes, will be released in IMAX theaters both domestically and internationally, making it the first time a Bond movie has received the IMAX treatment.

With the success of Brad Bird's Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, which was partially filmed using IMAX cameras, under their belt and a number of other potential hits ahead--The Hunger Games and The Dark Knight Rises for instance--it may not be that surprising that EON and Sony decided to follow suit. It is interesting to note that the movie will be released a week earlier in international markets than in the United States where it's still set for a November 9 release.

Here is the full press release:

IMAX Corporation, Albert R. Broccoli's EON Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, and Sony Pictures Entertainment today announced that the long-awaited next chapter in the famed James Bond franchise, SKYFALL, will be released in IMAX® theatres simultaneously with the film's international release on Oct. 26, and its domestic release on Nov. 9, 2012. This is the first IMAX installment of the iconic Bond film franchise.

In SKYFALL, Bond's loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.

SKYFALL marks the return of Daniel Craig as Ian Fleming's James Bond 007, as well as Judi Dench reprising her role as M. The film also stars franchise newcomers Ralph Fiennes, Javier Bardem and Naomie Harris. The film is directed by Sam Mendes from a screenplay written by Neal Purvis & Robert Wade and John Logan. Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli are producers.

"SKYFALL will be the cool, must-see event release of the fall, and releasing the film in IMAX only reinforces that," said Rory Bruer, President, Worldwide Distribution for Sony Pictures Worldwide Marketing and Distribution.

"It is fitting that with SKYFALL marking the 50th Anniversary of the James Bond franchise, we celebrate in epic style and what could be more larger-than-life than IMAX joining the festivities," said Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum, Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officers of MGM.

"It is an honor and a privilege to be a part of this legendary franchise, whose iconic characters and electrifying action will only be amplified in the IMAX format," said Greg Foster, Chairman and President, IMAX Filmed Entertainment. "We are excited to rejoin forces with our friends at Sony Pictures Entertainment and MGM and so pleased to work with Michael G. Wilson, Barbara Broccoli, and Sam Mendes to bring their vision to IMAX and Bond fans around the world."

The IMAX release of SKYFALL will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience® with proprietary IMAX DMR® (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The crystal-clear images coupled with IMAX's customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.

The very first photos of Javier Bardem as his still-mysterious Skyfall character have surfaced, following a round of shooting today in London. You can check the photos out below, which appear to have Bardem's character going toe-to-toe with Daniel Craig's James Bond while dressed as a British police officer.

Craig and Bardem join Dame Judi Dench, Naomie Harris, Berenice Marlohe, Ralph Fiennes, Albert Finney and Ben Whishaw in the Sam Mendes film, which has been officially described as follows:

In 'Skyfall,' Bond's loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.

Following the other day's reveal of the first photos of Javier Bardem as his still-mysterious Skyfall character, comes a new set of photos that reveal a very familiar James Bond vehicle: 007's classic Aston Martin.

In the photos below, you can also see Daniel Craig on the English set and a location that is rumored to be the villain's base of operations, nicknamed "Skyfall Lodge".

Craig and Bardem join Dame Judi Dench, Naomie Harris, Berenice Marlohe, Ralph Fiennes, Albert Finney and Ben Whishaw in the Sam Mendes film, which has been officially described as follows:

In 'Skyfall,' Bond's loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.

The Daily Mail is reporting that things heated up on the set of James Bond movie Skyfall last night as the countryside lodge built for the film was destroyed in a huge explosion and fire. The site says:

The film's crew and designers spent months building the replica building in the middle of the English countryside to create the perfect mansion worthy of a secret agent.

But in true action film style, nothing ever stays standing or intact for too long.

And last night, James Bond's countryside lodge was destroyed in a huge explosion as more scenes were filmed for the upcoming 007 film.

Sam Mendes' Skyfall has lined up another Bond girl in Greek actress Tonia Sotiropoulou, reports James Bond news site MI-6 who, in turn, learned of the casting from Sotiropoulou's Facebook page.

"Dear friends," the actress wrote. "I officially announce I got a part in J. Bond new film!!! Turkey here I come! Thank u all for you love and support! This is officially the happiest day of my life bitches!!!!"

Sotiropoulou is said to appear in the beginning of the film in a sequence set in Istanbul. The actress will shoot for five days on-location beginning April 22nd.

Joined: Sun Nov 04, 2007 6:30 pmPosts: 3611Location: The Great Country of Texas!

Welcome to the wonderful world of product placement Mr Bond. While I'm not as upset as some people on the net are (wow) it seems pretty stupid to me. There are just some things that shouldn't be messed with.

It's pretty common in the Bond world. Bond ditched the traditional Bentley for Aston Martin in the early 60's, in the 70's he drove Lotus cars (among others), 80's and 90's brought a deal with BMW, back to Aston Martin and Ford owned cars in the early 2000's (Die Another Day), deals with Smirnoff, deals with different clothiers (the makers of Bond's tuxedo's and suits has always been an exclusive thing), the Omega deal, it can go on and on. The Bond franchise has always bucked tradition and created new traditions in the interest of commercial deals.

The original Bond martini as written by Fleming was heavily featured in the first two Craig movies when it had never been fully explained or just shortchanged in all of the previous movies ("vodka martini, shaken not stirred," is shorthand and not actually correct).

Sooooooo..... Whatever.

_________________When you don't know what you really want, you end up with a lot you don't.